John Gillespie
John founded his video production company, Gillespie Productions, in 2016. But his expertise in storytelling that creates connections started decades before the day he put up his own shingle.
Telling compelling stories is in John’s blood. His father and grandfather were well-known sportscasters in Milwaukee, and John eagerly followed in their footsteps. While the job was a dream come true, and it challenged him to articulate athlete stories in engaging and approachable ways, after 10 years he looked for something new.
Broadcast journalism skills translate well into corporate communications, and John spent several years at a global food and beverage company. There, he learned how to share brand stories in ways that built trust and compelled audiences to take action.
Yet again, John found himself searching for a new path. After much prayer and consideration, he felt moved to strike out on his own. He bought a used camera, pieced together a cheap gear kit, and offered a free video to anyone in exchange for portfolio clout.
“I prayed about it for a long time, and I felt moved to start my own business.”
After shooting at a bar/restaurant in De Pere on a Saturday morning, John’s finished piece quickly achieved 100,000 Facebook views and bumped the bar’s sales. That very first video wasn’t anything flashy… but it solidified John’s passion and determination to help amplify real stories. John was hooked and has forged ahead with building a talented team around him, ever since.
John’s communications background, combined with his talent for putting together a good story, uniquely qualify him to produce video projects throughout the region. His ability to understand the technical aspects of video production, combined with limitless creativity, has earned Gillespie Productions a reputation for efficient shoots and laser-focused videos. They deliver on-brand content that people want to watch – every single time.
With core values including “curiosity,” “authenticity” and “low-drama,” John leads a dynamic and vastly talented team of creative and technical professionals. They believe in having fun at work, creating genuine relationships and guiding others with support and chumility, all while taking the tried-and-true Gillespie lens into every client project.
Outside of leading his company, John enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his children in sports, and dabbling in cooking from scratch when time allows.
